Piezoelectric actuator

ABSTRACT

A piezoelectric actuator is provided, including a vibration plate, a piezoelectric layer, a plurality of individual electrodes arranged in two arrays, first and second common electrodes which have first and second facing portions facing parts of the individual electrodes and first and second connecting portions connecting the first and second facing portions respectively, and first and second wiring portions which are arranged on the vibration plate and which are connected to the first and second common electrodes respectively via first and second connecting wirings, wherein one of the first connecting wirings connects the first connecting portion and one of the first wiring portion while striding over the second connecting portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/856,658 filed on Apr. 23, 2020, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/433,508 filed on Jun. 6, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,669,372, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/375,917 filed on Dec. 12, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,316,138, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/997,036 filed on Jan. 15, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,527,284, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/458,870 filed on Aug. 13, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,238,368, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/872,410 filed on Aug. 31, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,833,910, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-200744, filed on Aug. 31, 2009, the disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a piezoelectric actuator, in which a piezoelectric layer is interposed between individual electrodes and common electrodes, and a liquid discharge apparatus provided with the same.

Description of the Related Art

A piezoelectric actuator has been hitherto known, including a channel unit, a top plate (vibration plate) which is arranged on an upper end of the channel unit, and a piezoelectric layer which is stacked on the vibration plate, wherein individual electrodes facing pressure chambers are arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric layer, and a first constant electric potential electrode which faces substantially central portions of the individual electrodes and a second constant electric potential electrode which faces both end portions in the transverse direction of the individual electrodes are arranged on the other surface of the piezoelectric layer. In the piezoelectric actuator constructed as described above, the portion, of the piezoelectric layer, facing the individual electrode and the first constant electric potential electrode and another portion, of the piezoelectric layer, facing the individual electrode and the second constant electric potential electrode are simultaneously deformed. Accordingly, the portions, of the piezoelectric layer and the vibration plate, which face the pressure chambers are deformed. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the so-called crosstalk which would be otherwise caused such that the deformation of any portion of the piezoelectric layer facing a certain pressure chamber is transmitted to another portion facing another pressure chamber.

Another piezoelectric actuator has been known, including a vibration plate, a piezoelectric layer which is stacked on an upper surface of the vibration plate, pressure chambers which are aligned in two arrays in one direction on a surface, of the piezoelectric layer, facing the vibration plate, individual electrodes which are arranged at portions of the vibration plate facing the pressure chambers, a common electrode which is arranged to extend continuously while ranging over the plurality of pressure chambers on the other surface, of the piezoelectric layer, not facing the vibration plate, a driver IC which is arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate, and wiring lines which are led out to the upper surface of the vibration plate and which connect the driver IC and the electrodes to one another. In the piezoelectric actuator constructed as described above, the wiring lines, which are connected to the individual electrodes, are laid out on the same surface, of the vibration plate, as the surface on which the individual electrodes are arranged, and the wiring lines are connected to the driver IC. Therefore, the reliability is enhanced for the connection between the individual electrodes and the driver IC. In other words, the various electrodes such as the individual electrodes and the like are connected to the driver IC without using any wiring member such as FPC or the like. Therefore, the reliability is enhanced for the electrical connection and the physical connection between the electrodes and the driver IC.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have contrived a piezoelectric actuator which has two types of common electrodes, wherein wiring lines, which are connected to various electrodes, are led out to an upper surface of a vibration plate, and the wiring lines are connected to a driver IC. In the case of the piezoelectric actuator constructed as described above, it is also possible to avoid the crosstalk. Further, the electrodes such as individual electrodes and the like can be connected to the driver IC without using any wiring member such as FPC or the like. Therefore, the reliability is enhance for the physical and electrical connection between the driver IC and the electrodes such as the individual electrodes and the like.

Further, the present inventors have found out such a possibility that the electric potential distribution of a common electrode may be nonuniform on account of the following reason in relation to a piezoelectric actuator contrived by the present inventors. Thus, the present invention has been achieved.

According to the knowledge of the present inventors, it is preferable that the electric potential of the common electrode is uniform at all portions in order to uniformize the driving characteristics of the portions corresponding to respective pressure chambers in the piezoelectric actuator. If the wiring line for applying the electric potential is connected to the common electrode at only one position, it is feared that the electric potential (first electric potential) of the portion (first portion) of the common electrode connected to the wiring line is not identical with the electric potential (second electric potential) of the portion (second portion) separated from the terminal portion. According to the knowledge of the present inventors, it is feared that the second electric potential may be deviated from the first electric potential as the distance of electrical connection is more prolonged between the first portion and the second portion. In view of the above, the present inventors have found out the fact that it is necessary to connect the wiring lines at a plurality of mutually separated positions on the common electrode in order to suppress the nonuniform electric potential.

The two types of common electrodes described above are provided corresponding to the pressure chambers (individual electrodes) which are arranged in two arrays in one direction. Therefore, at least one of the two types of common electrodes has two portions which correspond to the individual electrodes included in the respective arrays and which are arranged while being separated from each other with the other common electrode intervening therebetween in relation to the direction perpendicular to the one direction. Therefore, in order to uniformize the electric potential between the mutually separated two portions, it is necessary that the portions should be in conduction with each other.

In this case, assume that the common electrode has the portions which are separated from each other as described above and the common electrode has no portion which allows the portions to be in conduction. Then it is possible to connect the wiring lines to the mutually separated portions respectively for the two types of common electrodes on the surface of the piezoelectric layer on which the common electrode is arranged. However, the present inventors have found out the following fact. That is, in this case, it is feared that any dispersion (fluctuation) may arise in the electric potential between the mutually separated portions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric actuator which is constructed such that two types of common electrodes retained at mutually different electric potentials are arranged on an identical surface of a piezoelectric layer and which makes it possible to uniformize the electric potentials of the two types of common electrodes at all portions respectively, and a liquid discharge apparatus provided with the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric actuator including:

-   -   a vibration plate;     -   a piezoelectric layer which is stacked on the vibration plate;     -   a plurality of individual electrodes which are arranged on one         surface of the piezoelectric layer and which form individual         electrode arrays arranged in two arrays in one direction;     -   a first common electrode which is arranged on the other surface         of the piezoelectric layer and which has a plurality of first         facing portions each facing a part of one of the individual         electrodes and a first connecting portion connecting the first         facing portions;     -   a second common electrode which is arranged on the other surface         of the piezoelectric layer, which is electrically insulated from         the first common electrode, and which has a plurality of second         facing portions each facing another part of one of the         individual electrodes and a second connecting portion connecting         the second facing portions;     -   a plurality of first connecting wirings which are connected to         the first common electrode, in the first connecting portion at a         plurality of mutually separated positions;     -   a plurality of first wiring sections which are arranged on the         vibration plate and which are connected to the first common         electrode via the first connecting wirings;     -   a plurality of second connecting wirings which are connected to         the second common electrode, in the second connecting portion at         a plurality of mutually separated positions; and     -   a plurality of second wiring sections which are arranged on the         vibration plate and which are connected to the second common         electrode via the second connecting wirings,     -   wherein one of the first connecting wirings connects the first         connecting portion and one of the first wiring sections while         striding over the second common electrode.

Accordingly, the first connecting wiring, which connects the first connecting portion and the first wiring portion to one another while striding over (stepping over or crossing over) the second connecting portion of the second common electrode, is provided, and thus the first and second connecting wirings can be connected to the plurality of mutually separated positions of the first and second common electrodes arranged on the same surface of the piezoelectric layer. It is possible to uniformize the electric potentials of the first and second common electrodes, respectively. The description is made, for example, in the following embodiments for the purpose of convenience assuming that the common electrode, which has the facing portions facing the substantially central portions of the individual electrodes, is regarded as the first common electrode, and the common electrode, which has the facing portions facing the portions except for the substantially central portions of the individual electrodes, is regarded as the second common electrode. However, no problem arises even if it is assumed that the common electrode, which has the facing portions facing the substantially central portions of the individual electrodes, is regarded as the second common electrode, and the common electrode, which has the facing portions facing the portions except for the substantially central portions of the individual electrodes, is regarded as the first common electrode.

According to the present invention, it is possible to uniformize the electric potentials of the first common electrode and the second common electrode arranged on the same surface of the piezoelectric layer respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a printer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view illustrating an ink-jet head shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows a plan view illustrating an upper surface of a vibration plate shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 shows a plan view illustrating an upper surface of a piezoelectric layer shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view taken along a line V-V shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view taken along a line VI-VI shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 7 shows a view according to a first modified embodiment corresponding to FIG. 4 .

FIG. 8 shows a view according to a second modified embodiment corresponding to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 9 shows a view according to a third modified embodiment corresponding to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 10 shows a view according to a fourth modified embodiment corresponding to FIG. 4 .

FIG. 11 shows a view according to a second embodiment corresponding to FIG. 4 .

FIG. 12 shows a view according to a fifth modified embodiment corresponding to FIG. 4 .

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A preferred first embodiment of the present teaching will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a printer 1 includes, for example, a carriage 2, an ink-jet head 3, and a transport roller 4. The carriage 2 is reciprocatively movable along a guide shaft 5 which extends in the scanning direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1 ). The ink-jet head 3 is arranged on a lower surface of the carriage 2, and the ink-jet head 3 discharges inks from nozzles 15 (see FIG. 2 ) arranged on the lower surface thereof. The transport roller 4 (transport mechanism) transports the recording paper P in the paper feeding direction (frontward direction in FIG. 1 ) in cooperation with an unillustrated motor.

In the printer 1, the inks are discharged to the recording paper P, which is transported in the paper feeding direction by the transport roller 4, by the ink-jet head 3 which is reciprocatively moved in the scanning direction together with the carriage 2, and thus the printing is performed on the recording paper P. The recording paper P, for which the printing has been completed, is transported in the paper feeding direction by the transport roller 4, and thus the recording paper P is discharged from the printer 1.

Next, the ink-jet head 3 will be explained. In order to recognize the positional relationship more comprehensively, a piezoelectric layer 42 described later on is depicted by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 3 , and a through-hole 46 a of an insulating layer 46 described later on and a portion of a wiring line 47 e arranged on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 are depicted by two-dot chain lines respectively in FIG. 4 .

The ink-jet head 3 includes a channel unit 31 which is formed with ink channels including, for example, pressure chambers 10 and the nozzles 15, and a piezoelectric actuator 32 which is arranged on the upper surface of the channel unit 31 and which applies the pressure to the inks contained in the pressure chambers 10.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the channel unit 31 is formed by mutually stacking four plates of a cavity plate 21, a base plate 22, a manifold plate 23, and a nozzle plate 24. The three plates 21 to 23 except for the nozzle plate 24, which are included in the four plates 21 to 24, are formed of a metal material such as stainless steel. The nozzle plate 24 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as polyimide. Alternatively, the nozzle plate 24 may be also formed of a metal material in the same manner as the other three plates 21 to 23.

A plurality of pressure chambers 10 and an ink supply port 9 (see FIG. 2 ) are arranged in the cavity plate 21. The pressure chambers 10 have substantially elliptical shapes in a plan view in which the scanning direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2 ) is the longitudinal direction of the elliptical pressure chamber 10, and the pressure chambers 10 are arranged in two arrays in the paper feeding direction (one direction). Substantially circular through-holes 12, 13 are arranged respectively at portions of the base plate 22 opposed to the both end portions of the plurality of pressure chambers 10 in the scanning direction. The ink supply port 9 is formed at a position communicated with a manifold channel 11 as described later on.

The manifold plate 23 is formed with the manifold channel 11 which extends in the paper feeding direction (up-down direction in FIG. 2 ) so that the manifold channel 11 is overlapped with substantially half portions of the pressure chambers 10 in each of the arrays disposed on the side of the through-holes 12 in the scanning direction. In this arrangement, the ink is supplied from the ink supply port 9 to the manifold channel 11. Further, the manifold plate 23 is formed with substantially circular through-holes 14 at portions overlapped with the through-holes 13. The nozzle plate 24 is formed with the nozzles 15 at portions overlapped with the through-holes 14.

In the channel unit 31, the manifold channel 11 is communicated with the pressure chambers 10 via the through-holes 12, and the pressure chambers 10 are communicated with the nozzles 15 via the through-holes 13, 14. In this way, a plurality of individual ink channels, which range from the outlets of the manifold channel 11 via the pressure chambers 10 to arrive at the nozzles 15, are formed in the channel unit 31.

The piezoelectric actuator 32 is provided with a vibration plate 41, a piezoelectric layer 42, a plurality of individual electrodes 43, common electrodes 44, 45, an insulating layer 46, and a plurality of wiring lines 47.

The vibration plate 41 is arranged on the upper surface of the cavity plate 21 so that the plurality of pressure chambers 10 are covered therewith. The vibration plate 41 is formed of, for example, a ceramics material such as alumina, zirconia, PZT described later on or the like or a metal material such as stainless steel or the like. However, when the vibration plate 41 is formed of the metal material, in order to avoid the conduction between the conductive vibration plate 41 and the individual electrodes 43 and/or the wiring lines 47 described later on, it is necessary that an insulating layer (not shown), which is formed of, for example, a ceramics material, should be arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 and that the individual electrodes 43 and the wiring lines 47 should be arranged thereon.

The piezoelectric layer 42 is formed of a piezoelectric material (PZT) containing a main component of lead titanate zirconate as the mixed crystal of lead titanate and lead zirconate. The piezoelectric layer 42 is arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate. The piezoelectric layer 42 extends continuously while ranging over the portions facing the plurality of pressure chambers 10.

The individual electrodes 43 are arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 (lower surface (one surface) of the piezoelectric layer 42), corresponding to the pressure chambers 10. The individual electrodes 43 have substantially elliptical shapes which are slightly larger than those of the pressure chambers 10 in a plan view, and the individual electrodes 43 are arranged so that the pressure chambers 10 are entirely covered therewith. Accordingly, the individual electrodes 43 are arranged in two arrays in the paper feeding direction in the same manner as the pressure chambers 10. The individual electrodes 43 are connected to a driver IC 50 as described later on. Any one of the electric potentials of the ground electric potential and the predetermined positive electric potential (for example, about 20 V) is selectively applied by the driver IC 50.

The common electrode 44 (first common electrode) is arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. Further, the common electrode 44 is connected to the driver IC 50 as described later on. The common electrode 44 is always retained at the ground electric potential by the driver IC 50. The common electrode 44 has a plurality of facing portions 44 a (first opposing portions, first facing portion), two connecting portions 44 b, and a joining portion 44 c. In this embodiment, a combination of the two connecting portions 44 b and the joining portion 44 c corresponds to the first connecting portion according to the present teaching.

The facing portions 44 a have substantially elliptical shapes which are one size smaller than those of the pressure chambers 10 as viewed in a plan view, and the facing portions 44 a are arranged so that the facing portions 44 a face substantially central portions (certain portions) of the pressure chambers 10 (individual electrodes 43). Accordingly, the facing portions 44 a are arranged in two arrays in the paper feeding direction in the same manner as the individual electrodes 43. The two connecting portions 44 b extend in the paper feeding direction (one direction) respectively. The two connecting portions 44 b mutually connect left end portions of the facing portions 44 a constituting the left array and right end portions of the facing portions 44 a constituting the right array. The joining portion 44 c extends in the scanning direction. The joining portion 44 c mutually connects upper end portions of the two connecting portions 44 b.

The common electrode 45 (second common electrode) is arranged in an area on the same upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 as the surface on which the common electrode 44 is arranged, the area being surrounded by the two connecting portions 44 b and the joining portion 44 c. The common electrode 45 is provided with a plurality of facing portions 45 a (second opposing portions, second facing portions) and a connecting portion 45 b (second connecting portion). The facing portions 45 a are arranged to face outer portions, of the pressure chambers 10, disposed outside the facing portions of the pressure chambers 10 facing the common electrode 44. The connecting portion 45 b is the portion, of the common electrode 45, as provided by excluding the facing portions 45 a from the common electrode 45. The connecting portion 45 b mutually connects the facing portions 45 a.

The common electrode 45 is connected to the driver IC 50 as described later on. The common electrode 45 is always retained at the constant positive electric potential by the driver IC 50.

In this arrangement, the portions of the piezoelectric layer 42 described above which are interposed between the individual electrodes 43 and the common electrode 44 (facing portions 44 a) and the portions interposed between the individual electrodes 43 and the common electrode 45 (facing portions 45 a) are polarized in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric layer 42.

The insulating layer 46 is formed of an insulative material including, for example, a ceramics material such as alumina, zirconia, PZT or the like or a synthetic resin material. The insulating layer 46 is arranged over the substantially entire region of the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 so that the common electrodes 44, 45 are covered therewith. The common electrode 44 and the common electrode 45 are arranged closely to one another on the same upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. Therefore, it is feared that the common electrode 44 and the common electrode 45 may be in conduction on account of the migration caused by the material for forming the electrodes. However, the insulating layer 46 is arranged to cover the common electrode 44 and the common electrode 45. Therefore, the occurrence of the migration as described above is avoided. Further, when a thin-layered insulating layer 46 is used, it is possible to thin the piezoelectric actuator 32. A substantially circular through-hole 46 a, which is filled with a conductive material, is formed through the insulating layer 46 at a portion opposed to a right-upward end portion of the common electrode 45 as viewed in FIG. 2 .

The plurality of wiring lines 47 include a plurality of wiring lines 47 a which are individually connected to the individual electrodes 43, two wiring lines 47 b, 47 c which are connected to the common electrode 44, and two wiring lines 47 d, 47 e which are connected to the common electrode 45. First ends of the wiring lines 47 are connected to the respective electrodes 43, 44, 45, and second ends of the wiring lines 47 are connected to the driver IC 50 arranged on the vibration plate 41. FIGS. 2 to 4 show portions, of the wiring lines 47, disposed in the vicinity of the connecting portions with respect to the electrodes 43 to 45 and other portions disposed in the vicinity of the connecting portions with respect to the driver IC 50. The other portions of the wiring lines 47 are omitted from the illustration.

The wiring lines 47 a to 47 e will be explained in further detail below. The first end of the wiring line 47 a is connected to the end portion of the individual electrode 43 disposed on the side opposite to the nozzle 15 in the scanning direction. Further, the wiring line 47 a is laid out from the concerning portion on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 which is positioned on the same surface as the surface on which the individual electrode 43 is arranged. The second end of the wiring line 47 a is connected to the driver IC 50.

In this arrangement, the wiring lines 47 a, which are provided individually for the individual electrodes 43, have the largest number among the wiring lines 47. However, the wiring lines 47 a are laid out on the same surface as the surface on which the individual electrodes 43 are arranged, and the wiring lines 47 a are connected to the driver IC 50. Therefore, for example, the disconnection or breaking of the wire is hardly caused, and the reliability of the connection is enhanced.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the first ends of the two wiring lines 47 b, 47 c are connected to the upper end portions of the left connecting portion 44 b and the right connecting portion 44 b, respectively, on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. Further, the wiring lines 47 b, 47 c are led out, from the connecting portions, to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 via the left and right side surfaces of the piezoelectric layer 42 as viewed in FIG. 2 , respectively. Further, the wiring lines 47 b, 47 c are laid out on the vibration plate 41, and the second ends of the wiring lines 47 b, 47 c are connected to the driver IC 50. In this embodiment, the portions of the two wiring lines 47 b, 47 c, which are arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, correspond to the first wiring portions according to the present teaching, and the portions, which connect the first wiring line portions and the connecting portions 44 b, correspond to the first connecting wirings according to the present teaching.

The first end of the wiring line 47 d is connected to the lower-left end portion (connecting portion 45 b) of the common electrode 45 as viewed in FIG. 2 on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. The wiring line 47 d is led out from the connecting portion to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 via the lower side surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 as viewed in FIG. 2 . Further, the wiring line 47 d is laid out on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, and the second end of the wiring line 47 d is connected to the driver IC 50.

The first end of the wiring line 47 e is positioned at the portion of the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 (surface disposed on the side opposite to the piezoelectric layer 42) facing the through-hole 46 a, and the first end of the wiring line 47 e is connected to the upper-right end portion (connecting portion 45 b) of the common electrode 45, as viewed in FIG. 2 , via the conductive material charged into the through-hole 46 a. The wiring line 47 e extends from the connecting portion on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 to the upper end of the insulating layer 46 in the upward direction as viewed in FIG. 2 . In this arrangement, the wiring line 47 e is arranged on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 so that the wiring line 47 e strides over (steps over) the joining portion 44 c of the common electrode 44.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the wiring line 47 e is further led out to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 via the insulating layer 46 and the side surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. The wiring line 47 e is laid out on the vibration plate 41, and the second end of the wiring line 47 e is connected to the driver IC 50.

In this embodiment, the portions of the wiring lines 47 d, 47 e, which are arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, correspond to the second wiring portions according to the present teaching. The portions of the wiring lines 47 d, 47 e, which connect the second wiring portions and the common electrode 45 (connecting portion 45 b), correspond to the second connecting wirings according to the present teaching. In the first embodiment, as described above, the second connecting wiring line extends while striding over the first connecting portion.

In this arrangement, unlike the wiring lines 47 a connected to the individual electrodes 43, the wiring lines 47 b to 47 e, which are connected to the common electrodes 44, 45, are led out from the connecting portions with respect to the respective electrodes to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 which is positioned at the height different from that of the connecting portions. That is, the first and second connecting wirings, which are connected to the first and second wiring line portions, are arranged on the surface having the height (position in relation to the stacking direction of the vibration plate 41 and the piezoelectric layer 42) different from that of the surface on which the first and second wiring portions are arranged. Therefore, it is feared that the reliability of the connection may be deteriorated or lowered as compared with the wiring lines 47 a. However, as described above, the two wiring lines 47 b, 47 c are connected to the common electrode 44, and the two wiring lines 47 d, 47 e are connected to the common electrode 45. Therefore, even if any one of the two wiring lines is discontinued or broken, any fear, in which the electric potential of the electrode may be greatly fluctuated, is not caused. Any fear, in which the piezoelectric actuator 32 cannot be driven, is not caused as well.

When the numbers of the wiring lines connected to the common electrodes 44, 45 are further increased, it is also possible to improve the reliability of the connection. Even in this case, the numbers can be increased with ease as compared with the case in which the number of the wiring lines connected to the respective individual electrodes 43 having the large number is further increased.

The method for driving the piezoelectric actuator 32 will now be explained. In the piezoelectric actuator 32, the plurality of individual electrodes 43 are previously retained at the ground electric potential. As described above, the constant positive electric potential is applied to the common electrode 45. Therefore, the electric potential difference arises between the individual electrodes 43 and the common electrode 45 (facing portions 45 a). The electric field, which is in the direction parallel to the polarization direction, is generated at the portion (first active portion) of the piezoelectric layer 42 interposed between the electrodes. Accordingly, the concerning portion of the piezoelectric layer 42 is shrunk in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric field. As a result, the portions of the vibration plate 41, the piezoelectric layer 42, and the insulating layer 46, which face the pressure chambers 10, are deformed as a whole to protrude toward the opposite side of the pressure chambers 10. The volume of the pressure chambers 10 are increased as compared with the state in which the deformation is not caused.

When the piezoelectric actuator 32 is driven, the electric potential of any desired individual electrode 43 is switched from the ground electric potential to the positive electric potential. In this situation, the individual electrode 43, which has been switched to have the positive electric potential, has the electric potential equal to that of the common electrode 45. Therefore, the portion of the piezoelectric layer 42, which is interposed between the individual electrode 43 and the common electrode 45, is returned to the state having been provided before the shrinkage. On the other hand, as described above, the electric potential difference arises between the individual electrode 43 and the common electrode 44 (facing portion 44 a), because the ground electric potential is applied to the common electrode 44. Accordingly, the electric field, which is directed in the direction parallel to the polarization direction, is generated at the portion (second active portion) of the piezoelectric layer 42 interposed between the individual electrode 43 and the common electrode 44 (facing portion 44 a). The concerning portion of the piezoelectric layer 42 is shrunk in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric field. Accordingly, the portions of the vibration plate 41, the piezoelectric layer 42, and the insulating layer 46, which are opposed to the corresponding pressure chamber 10, are deformed as a whole to protrude toward the corresponding pressure chamber 10, and the volume of the pressure chamber 10 is decreased. As a result, the pressure of the ink contained in the pressure chamber 10 is raised, and the ink is discharged from the nozzle 15 communicated with the corresponding pressure chamber 10. After the ink discharge, the electric potential of the individual electrode 43 is switched from the positive electric potential to the ground electric potential, and the piezoelectric actuator 32 is returned to the initial state.

In this situation, in the piezoelectric actuator 32, when the electric potential of the individual electrode 43 is switched from the ground electric potential to the positive electric potential, the portion of the piezoelectric layer 42, which is interposed between the individual electrode 43 and the facing portion 44 a, is shrunk in the horizontal direction. Further, simultaneously therewith, the portion of the piezoelectric layer 42, which is interposed between the individual electrode 43 and the facing portion 45 a, is elongated from the shrunk state to the state having been provided before the shrinkage. Accordingly, the influence exerted by the shrinkage of the piezoelectric layer 42 and the influence exerted by the elongation thereof are counteracted with each other. As a result, it is possible to avoid the so-called crosstalk which would be otherwise caused such that the deformation of any portion of the piezoelectric layer 42 facing a certain pressure chamber 10 is transmitted to any other portion facing another pressure chamber 10.

In order to uniformize, for example, the discharge speed and the volumes of the ink droplets discharged from the respective nozzles 15 when the piezoelectric actuator 32 is driven, it is necessary that the electric field, which is generated in the piezoelectric layer 42, should be uniformized. For this purpose, it is necessary that the electric potentials of the common electrodes 44, 45 should be uniformized at all portions respectively. It is hypothetically assumed that one contact is provided between each of the wiring lines 47 and each of the common electrodes 44, 45. In this case, it is difficult to uniformize the electric potentials at all portions of the common electrodes 44, 45 respectively, because the common electrodes 44, 45 are the relatively large electrodes which are provided to range over the plurality of pressure chambers 10 (individual electrodes 43). That is, the electric potentials of the common electrodes 44, 45 are not uniform in all areas. As the portions of the common electrodes 44, 45 are separated farther from the portions of connection with respect to the wiring lines 47, the electric potentials of the concerning portions are more deviated from the electric potentials provided at the contact portions with respect to the wiring lines 47. Therefore, in order to uniformize the electric potential, as described above, it is necessary that the wiring lines 47 (first and second connecting wirings) should be connected at a plurality of positions of the common electrodes 44, 45 separated from each other.

As for the common electrode 44, the two connecting portions 44 b are arranged while being separated from each other in the scanning direction. Therefore, in order to uniformize the electric potential of the common electrode 44, it is necessary that the two connecting portions 44 b should be connected to one another.

However, it is difficult that, on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42, all of the wiring lines 47, which are connected to the plurality of mutually separated portions of the common electrodes 44, 45, are connected to the common electrodes 44, 45, and that, on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42, the two connecting portions 44 b are connected to one another.

This situation will be explained specifically below. When the common electrode 44 has the joining portion 44 c, and the two connecting portions 44 b are connected to one another by the joining portion 44 c on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 as in this embodiment, then the electric potential is uniformized for the two connecting portions 44 b. However, in this case, the common electrode 45 is surrounded on the three sides by the two connecting portions 44 b and the joining portion 44 c. Therefore, if the situation holds as it is, it is inevitable that the wiring line 47 d, which is connected to the common electrode 45, should be connected to only the lower end portion of the common electrode 45. In this case, it is feared that the electric potential provided at the upper end portion of the common electrode 45 separated from the connecting portion with respect to the wiring line 47 and the electric potential provided in the area near to the connecting portion with respect to the wiring line 47 d may be nonuniform.

On the other hand, if the joining portion 44 c is removed from the common electrode 44, then the wiring lines 47 can be connected to the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the common electrode 45 (connecting portion 45 b) on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42, and hence it is possible to uniformize the electric potential of the common electrode 45. However, in this case, the two connecting portions 44 b are not connected to one another. Therefore, it is feared that any dispersion may arise in the electric potential between the two connecting portions 44 b.

On the contrary, in this embodiment, as described above, the two connecting portions 44 b of the common electrode 44 are connected by the joining portion 44 c, and the wiring line 47 d is connected to the lower end portion of the connecting portion 45 b of the common electrode 45. Further, the wiring line 47 e (second connecting wiring), which extends on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 while striding over the joining portion 44 c, is connected to the upper end portion of the connecting portion 45 b. Therefore, it is possible to uniformize the electric potentials of the common electrodes 44, 45 respectively.

Further, the wiring line 47 e, which is connected to the common electrode 45 while striding over the joining portion 44 c, is arranged on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 which covers the common electrodes 44, 45 therewith. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wiring line 47 c from any conduction with the joining portion 44 c. The portion of the common electrode 45 to which the wiring line 47 e is connected and the portion to which the wiring line 47 d is connected are formed at the positions (positions substantially in point symmetry with respect to the center of the common electrode 45) separated from each other in the diagonal line direction of the substantially rectangular common electrode 45, in order to secure the distance between these portions. In this way, in order to uniformize the electric potential distribution of the common electrode as uniformly as possible, it is desirable that the wiring lines, which supply the electric potential to the common electrode, are connected to the common electrode at the positions which are separated from each other as far as possible.

Next, modified embodiments, in which various modifications are applied to the first embodiment, will be explained. However, the components or parts, which are constructed in the same manner as those of the embodiment of the present teaching, are designated by the same reference numerals, any explanation of which will be appropriately omitted.

In a first modified embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 , the common electrode 44 further includes a joining portion 44 d which connects the lower end portions of the two connecting portions 44 b. Accordingly, the common electrode 45 is surrounded on the four sides by the two connecting portions 44 b and the two joining portions 44 c, 44 d.

A wiring line 47 f is provided in place of the wiring line 47 d. The first end of the wiring line 47 f is connected to the lower-left end portion of the common electrode 45 via the conductive material charged into the through-hole 46 a formed at the lower-left end portion of the insulating layer 46 opposed to the common electrode 45. The wiring line 47 f extends downwardly from the connecting portion on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 (see FIG. 5 ) while striding over (stepping over) the joining portion 44 d.

When the common electrode 45 is surrounded on the four sides by the two connecting portions 44 b and the two joining portions 44 c, 44 d, the wiring lines cannot be connected to the common electrode 45 on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. Even in such a situation, the wiring lines 47 e, 47 f, which extend while striding over the joining portions 44 c, 44 d, are provided as the wiring lines which are connected to the common electrode 45. Accordingly, it is possible to connect the wiring lines to the mutually separated portions of the common electrode 45, and it is possible to uniformize the electric potential of the common electrode 45.

In this case, the lower end portions of the two connecting portions 44 b are connected to one another by the joining portion 44 d in addition to the fact that the upper end portions of the two connecting portions 44 b are connected to one another by the joining portion 44 c. Therefore, the electric potential of the common electrode 44 is further uniformized.

In the first embodiment, the portion of the wiring line 47 e (second connecting wiring), which extends while striding over the joining portion 44 c, is arranged on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 which is arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 so that the entire common electrodes 44, 45 are covered therewith. However, the present teaching is not limited thereto. It is not necessarily indispensable that the insulating layer is formed to cover the entire common electrode.

In a second modified embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8 , an insulating layer 81 is arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 so that only the joining portion 44 c is covered therewith. The portion of the wiring line 47 e, which extends while striding over the joining portion 44 c, is arranged on the upper surface of the insulating layer 81. Further, another insulating layer 82 is arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 on which the insulating layer 81 and the abovementioned portion of the wiring line 47 e are arranged so that the common electrodes 44, 45 are covered therewith. The common electrode 44 and the common electrode 45 are prevented from any conduction on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 owing to the insulating layer 82.

Also in this case, it is possible to avoid any conduction between the wiring line 47 e and the joining portion 44 c by means of the insulating layer 81.

In a third modified embodiment, the conductive material is not charged into the through-hole 46 a of the insulating layer 46. As shown in FIG. 9 , a first end of a wire bonding line 91 is connected to a portion (connecting portion 45 b) of the common electrode 45 exposed from the through-hole 46 a, and a second end of the wire bonding line 91 is connected to a wiring line 47 g arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41. Accordingly, the common electrode 45 and the wiring line 47 g are connected to one another by the wire bonding line 91. Further, in order to avoid any exfoliation of the wire bonding line 91, an insulating material 92, which is composed of, for example, a synthetic resin material and which is formed by the potting, is arranged to cover not only the wire bonding line 91, but also the connecting portions with respect to the common electrode 45 and the wiring line 47 g. In this case, the wiring line 47 g corresponds to the second wiring portion according to the present teaching, and the wire bonding line 91 corresponds to the second connecting wiring according to the present teaching.

In this arrangement, the wire bonding line 91 and the common electrode 45 are connected to one another and the wire bonding line 91 and the wiring line 47 g are connected to one another, for example, by means of the ultrasonic welding. In this case, the first end and the second end of the wire bonding line 91 are pressed against the foregoing portion of the common electrode 45 and the wiring line 47 g respectively (by applying the pressure) to effect the abutment. In this state, the ultrasonic wave is applied to the abutment portions. Accordingly, the portions of the wire bonding line 91 and the common electrode 45 (the portions of the wire bonding line 91 and the wiring line 47 g), at which they mutually make the abutment, are converted into the alloy, and the wire bonding line 91 and the common electrode 45 (the wire bonding line 91 and the wiring line 47 g) are connected to one another.

Also in this case, the portion of the common electrode 45, which is surrounded by the connecting portions 44 b (see FIG. 4 ) and the joining portion 44 c, can be connected to the wiring line 47 g by means of the wire bonding line 91. Therefore, it is possible to uniformize the electric potential of the common electrode 45 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

When the insulating material 92 is formed by means of the potting, the insulating material 92 also flows into the portion disposed on the lower side of the wire bonding line 91. Therefore, the portion of the insulating layer 46, which covers the joining portion 44 c, may be omitted. Further, the wire bonding line 91 is arranged in the state of being separated from the joining portion 44 c. Therefore, it is not necessarily indispensable to form the insulating material 92.

In the first embodiment and the first to third modified embodiments, the wiring lines 47 e, 47 f, 47 g and the wire bonding line 91 are allowed to stride over the joining portions 44 c, 44 d. However, they may be allowed to stride over any one of the two connecting portions 44 b.

In the first embodiment, the common electrode 44 (first common electrode) has the two connecting portions 44 b which are provided corresponding to the individual electrodes 43 arranged in the two arrays and the joining portion 44 c which connects the two connecting portions 44 b, and the common electrode 45 (second common electrode) is surrounded by the two connecting portions 44 b and the joining portion 44 c. However, the present teaching is not limited thereto.

In a fourth modified embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 , common electrodes 74, 75 are arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 in place of the common electrodes 44, 45. The common electrode 74 (first common electrode) has a plurality of facing portions 74 a (first facing portions) which face the plurality of pressure chambers 10 respectively and a connecting portion 74 b (first connecting portion) which mutually connects the plurality of facing portions 74 a.

The common electrode 75 (second common electrode) is arranged to surround the common electrode 74. The common electrode 75 has a plurality of facing portions 75 a (second facing portions) which face the plurality of pressure chambers 10 respectively and a connecting portion 75 b (second connecting portion) which mutually connects the plurality of facing portions 75 a.

Wiring lines 47 h, 47 i are connected to an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the connecting portion 74 b of the common electrode 74 respectively. Wiring lines 47 j, 47 k are connected to an upper-right end portion and a lower-left end portion (connecting portions 75 b) of the common electrode 75 respectively as viewed in FIG. 10 .

The first ends of the wiring lines 47 h, 47 i are connected to the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the connecting portion 74 b, respectively, via the conductive material charged into through-holes 46 c, 46 d which are formed at portions of the insulating layer 46 (see FIG. 5 ) facing the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the connecting portion 74 b. The wiring line 47 h extends, from the connecting portion in the upward direction as viewed in FIG. 10 , on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 to stride over the common electrode 75 (connecting portion). Further, the wiring line 47 h is led out to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 via the upper side surface of the insulating layer 46. Similarly, the wiring line 47 i also extends, from the connecting portion in the leftward direction, on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 to stride over the common electrode 75 (connecting portion). Further, the wiring line 47 i is led out to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 via the left side surface of the insulating layer 46.

As described above, the first ends of the wiring lines 47 j, 47 k are connected to the portions of the common electrode 75, respectively, on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. Further, the wiring lines 47 j, 47 k are led out to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 via the right and lower side surfaces of the piezoelectric layer 42 as viewed in FIG. 10 .

The wiring lines 47 h to 47 k, which are led out to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, are laid out on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, and the second ends of the wiring lines 47 h to 47 k are connected to the driver IC 50, in the same manner as described in the first embodiment.

In the fourth modified embodiment, the portions of the wiring lines 47 h, 47 i, which are arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, correspond to the first wiring portions according to the present teaching. The portions of the wiring lines 47 h, 47 i, which are arranged to stride over the common electrode 75 and which connect the first wiring portions and the upper/lower end portion of the connecting portion 74 b, correspond to the first connecting wirings according to the present teaching. The portions of the wiring lines 47 j, 47 k, which are arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, correspond to the second wiring portions according to the present teaching. The portions of the wiring lines 47 j, 47 k, which are allowed to pas along the side surfaces of the piezoelectric layer 42 to connect the second wiring portions and the common electrode 45, correspond to the second connecting wirings according to the present teaching. In the fourth modified embodiment, as described above, the first connecting wirings extend while striding over the second connecting portion.

Also in this case, the wiring lines 47 h to 47 k are connected to the mutually separated portions of the common electrodes 74, 75. Therefore, it is possible to uniformize the electric potentials of the common electrodes 74, 75 respectively.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. However, in the second embodiment, only a part of the arrangement of the piezoelectric actuator is different from that of the first embodiment. Therefore, only portions, which are different from those of the first embodiment, will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 11 , in the second embodiment, the common electrode 44 does not have the connecting portion 44 c (see FIG. 4 ) on the piezoelectric layer 42. The two connecting portions 44 b are arranged while being separated from each other with the common electrode 45 intervening therebetween in the scanning direction (left-right direction as shown in FIG. 11 ). A wiring line 47 l is connected to the common electrode 45 in place of the wiring line 47 e (see FIG. 4 ).

As shown in FIG. 11 , the first end of the wiring line 47 l is connected to an upper-right end portion (connecting portion 45 b) of the common electrode 45 on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. Further, the wiring line 47 l is led out to the upper surface of the vibration plate 41 (surface disposed on the side opposite to the channel unit) via the upper side surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. Further, the wiring line 47 l is laid out on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, and the wiring line 47 l is connected to the driver IC 50. The portion of the wiring line 47 l, which is arranged on the upper surface of the vibration plate 41, corresponds to the first wiring portion according to the present teaching. The portion of the wiring line 47 l, which is allowed to pass along the side surface of the piezoelectric layer 42 to connect the first wiring portion and the common electrode 45, corresponds to the first connecting wiring according to the present teaching.

A bypass wiring 101 is arranged on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 (see FIG. 5 ). The bypass wiring 101 extends in the scanning direction while striding over the common electrode 45. The both ends thereof are connected to upper end portions of the two connecting portions 44 b respectively via the conductive material charged into through-holes 46 e, 46 f formed at portions of the insulating layer 46 facing the upper end portions of the two connecting portions 44 b. Accordingly, the two connecting portions 44 b are connected to one another by the bypass wiring 101.

Also in this case, the wiring lines 47 d, 47 l (second connecting wiring) are connected respectively to the mutually separated lower-left and upper-right end portions (a plurality of portions) of the common electrode 45 on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to improve the uniformity of the electric potential of the common electrode 45.

Further, the two connecting portions 44 b, which are arranged while being separated from each other with the common electrode 45 intervening therebetween in the scanning direction, are connected to one another by the bypass wiring 101 which extends while striding over the common electrode 45. Therefore, the electric potential of the common electrode 44 is uniformized.

Next, a modified embodiment, in which various modifications are applied to the second embodiment, will be explained. However, the components or parts, which are constructed in the same manner as those of the second embodiment, are designated by the same reference numerals, any explanation of which will be appropriately omitted.

In the second embodiment, the two connecting portions 44 b, which are arranged and separated from each other, are connected to one another by the bypass wiring 101. However, the present teaching is not limited thereto.

In a fifth modified embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 , the common electrode 44 further includes a joining portion 44 f which connects substantially central portions of the two connecting portions 44 to one another. Therefore, the connecting portion 45 b of the common electrode 45 is divided into two portions which are separated from each other while interposing the joining portion 44 f in relation to the up-down direction as viewed in FIG. 12 .

In this arrangement, conversely to the second embodiment, the common electrode 45 corresponds to the first common electrode according to the present teaching, and the common electrode 44 corresponds to the second common electrode according to the present teaching. The respective portions of the connecting portion 45 b, which are divided into two, correspond to the first connecting portions according to the present teaching respectively. That is, the common electrode 45 has the two first connecting portions.

In the fifth modified embodiment, the portion corresponding to the first wiring portion and the portion corresponding to the second wiring portion are reversed to one another, and the portion corresponding to the first connecting wiring and the portion corresponding to the second connecting wiring are reversed to one another, as compared with the second embodiment.

Further, a bypass wiring 102 is arranged on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46 (see FIG. 5 ). The bypass wiring 102 extends in a direction slightly inclined with respect to the paper feeding direction (left-right direction as viewed in FIG. 12 ) while striding over the joining portion 44 f. The both ends of the bypass wiring 102 are connected respectively to the abovementioned two portions of the connecting portion 45 b via the conductive material charged into two through-holes 46 g, 46 h formed respectively at portions of the insulating layer 46 facing the two portions of the common electrode 45. Accordingly, the two portions of the connecting portion 45 b are connected to one another by the bypass wiring 102.

Also in this case, it is possible to uniformize the electric potentials of the common electrodes 44, 45 respectively at all portions.

Also in the second embodiment, the two connecting portions 44 b may be connected to one another by means of a wire bonding provided in the same manner as in the third modified embodiment described above, in place of the bypass wiring 101 arranged on the upper surface of the insulating layer 46.

In the second embodiment, the bypass wiring 101 mutually connects the upper end portions of the two connecting portions 44 b. However, the bypass wiring 101 may connect other portions of the two connecting portions 44 b. Further, a plurality of bypass wirings may be provided.

In the second embodiment, the common electrode 44 (first common electrode) is provided with the two connecting portions 44 b (first connecting portions) corresponding to the arrays of the individual electrodes 43. However, the present teaching is not limited thereto. It is not necessarily indispensable that the first connecting portion should be provided corresponding to the array of the individual electrode 43, provided that the first connecting portion connects at least two first facing portions to one another. The number of the first connecting portions is not limited to two as well. The first common electrode may have three or more first connecting portions. When the three or more first connecting portions are provided, for example, a plurality of bypass wirings are provided to connect every mutually different two of the three or more first connecting portions. In this way, it is possible to allow all of the first connecting portions to be in conduction.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the plurality of individual electrodes 43 are arranged on the lower surface of the piezoelectric layer 42, and the common electrodes 44, 45 are arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42. However, conversely to the above, the common electrodes 44, 45 may be arranged on the lower surface of the piezoelectric layer 42, and the plurality of individual electrodes 43 may be arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 42.

In this case, for example, an insulating layer is arranged between the piezoelectric layer 42 and the vibration plate 41. The portions of the wiring lines 47 e, 47 f, 47 h, 47 i which extend while striding over the joining portions 44 c, 44 d and the common electrode 75 (first and second connecting wirings) and the bypass wiring 101 are arranged on the lower surface of the insulating layer.

In the first and second embodiments, the common electrode 44 (facing portion 44 a) faces the substantially central portion of the pressure chamber 10, and the common electrode 45 (facing portion 45 a) is opposed to the portion other than the substantially central portion of the pressure chamber 10. However, there is no limitation thereto. For example, conversely to the above, the facing portions of the first and second common electrodes may face portions of the pressure chamber 10 different from those in the first embodiment. That is, the second facing portion may face the substantially central portion of the pressure chamber 10 and the first facing portion may face the portion other than the substantially central portion of the pressure chamber 10. In this case, for example, the positions and the shapes of the connecting portions of the respective common electrodes may be appropriately changed in conformity with, for example, the positions and the shapes of the facing portions of the first and second common electrodes.

In the foregoing embodiments, the piezoelectric actuator is arranged with only any one of the wiring line which is connected to one of the two types of the common electrodes while striding over the other common electrode and which is exemplified by the wiring lines 47 e, 47 f, 47 h, 47 i and the wire bonding line 91. Alternatively, the piezoelectric actuator is arranged with the bypass wiring which mutually connects the two or more connecting portions of one of the two types of the common electrodes while striding over the other common electrode and which is exemplified by the bypass wirings 101, 102. However, the piezoelectric actuator may be arranged with both of the two types of the wiring lines depending on the arrangement of the two types of the common electrodes.

In the foregoing embodiments, the wiring lines 47 e, 47 f, 47 h, 47 i are arranged on the insulating layer, or the insulating material is arranged around the wire bonding line 91 by means of the potting. However, there is no limitation thereto. The wiring lines 47, the wire bonding line 91, and the bypass wiring lines 101, 102 may be formed with coated electric wires or electric cables.

The foregoing embodiments are illustrative of the exemplary case in which the present teaching is applied to the piezoelectric actuator to be used for the ink-jet head of the so-called serial type printer for discharging the inks from the nozzles while being reciprocatively moved in the scanning direction together with the carriage. However, there is no limitation thereto. It is also allowable to apply the present teaching to a piezoelectric actuator to be used for a so-called line head which is fixed to the printer and which extends over the entire length in the widthwise direction of the recording paper. Further, it is also possible to apply the present teaching to a piezoelectric actuator to be used for any apparatus or device other than the ink-jet head. The piezoelectric actuator according to the present teaching is also preferably applicable to any liquid discharge head to be carried on a liquid discharge apparatus usable, for example, for an apparatus for producing a color filter of a liquid display apparatus by discharging any liquid other than the ink including, for example, a coloring liquid and an apparatus for forming electrical wiring lines by discharging a conductive liquid. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A piezoelectric actuator comprising: a piezoelectric layer; a first individual electrode array including a plurality of first individual electrodes arranged below the piezoelectric layer and aligned in a first direction; a second individual electrode array including a plurality of second individual electrodes arranged below the piezoelectric layer and aligned in the first direction; a first common electrode arranged on the piezoelectric layer, the first common electrode including a plurality of first facing portions which are demarcated to correspond to the plurality of first electrodes, respectively, and a plurality of second facing portions which are demarcated to correspond to the plurality of second electrodes, respectively; and a connecting portion located between the plurality of first facing portions and the plurality of second facing portions, and connecting the plurality of first facing portions and the plurality of second facing portions, wherein the connecting portion includes a straight portion which extends parallel to the first direction.
 2. A piezoelectric actuator comprising: a piezoelectric layer; a first individual electrode array including a plurality of first individual electrodes arranged below the piezoelectric layer and aligned in a first direction; a second individual electrode array including a plurality of second individual electrodes arranged below the piezoelectric layer and aligned in the first direction; a first common electrode arranged on the piezoelectric layer, the first common electrode including a plurality of first facing portions which are demarcated to correspond to the plurality of first electrodes, respectively, and a plurality of second facing portions which are demarcated to correspond to the plurality of second electrodes, respectively; and a connecting portion located between the plurality of first facing portions and the plurality of second facing portions, and connecting the plurality of first facing portions and the plurality of second facing portions, wherein the connecting portion extends in the first direction wherein the first individual electrode array and the second individual electrode array are arranged side by side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the piezoelectric actuator further comprises a plurality of individual traces located outside of the first individual electrode array and the second individual electrode array, and connected to the first and second individual electrodes, respectively.
 3. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion extends to both of outmost first facing portions in the first direction among the first facing portions.
 4. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 1, wherein both ends in the first direction of the connecting portion are connected to an IC via traces.
 5. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 1 further comprising a second common electrode surrounding the first common electrode.
 6. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 5, wherein both ends in the first direction of the second common electrode are connected to an IC via traces. 